PRACTICAL PALETTE SYSTEM

A repeatable paint-mixing palette for miniatures

Plan basecoat, shadow, highlight, accent, and repeatable intermediate steps for miniatures while accounting for tiny batches, strong pigments, and the color of the primer.

Made for: Miniature and scale-model painters who want fewer bottles, smoother transitions, and recipes they can reproduce.

THE WORKING PALETTE

Give every paint a clear job

Opaque WhiteRaises highlight valueWatch: Can desaturate and chalk every highlight

Primary or bright yellowWarms highlights and mixes greensWatch: Usually has weaker coverage than expected

Strong magenta or crimsonMixes violets, reds, and lively shadowsWatch: A half-drop can move a small mix dramatically

Cyan or green-shade blueMixes bright greens and cool armorWatch: High staining and tint strength

Warm earth brownNeutralizes, weathers, and deepensWatch: Can make every material look dusty

Dark blue or chromatic darkBuilds cool shadows without dead blackWatch: Check that the final recess is dark enough

MIXING SEQUENCE

Work from structure to small corrections

Record the primer

The same thin paint changes over white, gray, black, or colored primer. Keep the test base identical to the model.

Build a five-step string

Mix shadow, shadow-mid, base, light-mid, and highlight before painting. Save enough base color for corrections.

Measure tiny batches

Use repeatable drops or a small marked tool. If a recipe needs a quarter-drop, multiply the whole batch.

Test the finish

Gloss changes apparent value and saturation. Compare after the intended wash, medium, and varnish have dried.

TARGET RECIPES

Use these mixtures as checkpoints

Each linked page includes a starting ratio, pigment logic, alternative route, corrections, and a verification checklist.

Teal
#2F7F7A Petrol Blue
#275B63 Olive Green
#767A3D Khaki
#A49768 Rust
#A94F32 Chromatic Black
#252625

SKILL-BUILDING EXERCISES

Three tests with visible success criteria

1. Five-step armor ramp

Task: Create five equal visual value steps from one base color without using pure white until the final step.

Success check: Each step remains distinct at arm's length.

2. Primer comparison

Task: Apply the same thin mixture over white, gray, and black primed strips.

Success check: Record which coats are needed and how the hue appears to shift.

3. Repeat tomorrow

Task: Remix a saved 4:2:1 recipe on the next day without looking at the original wet paint.

Success check: The dried swatches are close enough for a repair or second model.

COMMON FAILURE MODES

What to catch before the painting

Using brush loads as if they were equal units
Mixing too little paint to finish the model
Using white for every highlight regardless of material
Comparing a glossy wet palette mixture with a matte finished miniature

SAVE THE RESULT

Turn the successful swatch into evidence

Record the exact paint names, pigment codes when available, ratio, medium, surface, primer, wet appearance, dry appearance, date, and lighting. The printable Mixora worksheet keeps those conditions beside the recipe.